Here are the '''basic knots''' [[Cub Scout Leader Portal|Cub Scouts]] and [[Boy Scout Portal|Boy Scouts]] learn. These few knots are the only knots you have to know to go all the way to Eagle. Cross-references are provided to the [[Wolf]], [[Bear]], [[Webelos]], [[Tenderfoot]], [[Second Class]], and [[First Class]] requirements.

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{{Print|<table><tr><td>There are two great pages you can print:</td><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td><li>[[Media:Step-By-Step-Knots-11-Basic-Scout-Knots.pdf|Step-By-Step knots]] [[Image:Pdficon small.gif]] (439 KB): 11 Basic knots fit on the front and back of one page.<li>[[Media:Six-Boy-Scout-Knots.pdf|Six Boy Scout knots]] [[Image:Pdficon small.gif]] (62 KB) by John Geffre</td></tr></table>}}

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Many knots below have very good Lesson Videos. Here is a general one for Scout Knots:

Here are the basic knots [[Cub Scout Leader Portal|Cub Scouts]] and [[Boy Scout Portal|Boy Scouts]] learn. These few knots are the only knots you have to know to go all the way to Eagle. Cross-references are provided to the [[Wolf]], [[Bear]], [[Webelos]], [[Tenderfoot]], [[Second Class]], and [[First Class]] requirements.

The Overhand knot is used in other knots including the [[Knot#Square knot|Square knot]] which is two Overhand knots. The overhand knot can be used temporarily but can untie very easily if tied around something. The overhand knot can be used as a stopper knot and can keep a rope from fraying or unraveling but the [[Special_Knots#Figure_Eight|Figure Eight]] is a much better stopper knot.

[[Image:Square-Knot.gif|frame|right|<center>'''Square knot'''<br>'' Right over left, Left over right, <br>makes a knot tidy, and tight.''</center>]]

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[[Image:Granny_Knot.gif|frame|right|<center>'''Granny knot'''<br>'' Right over left, Right over left,<br>Makes a knot ugly and WRONG.''</center>]]

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{{quote-source|The square knot is also known as the joining knot because it can join two ropes together and because it is the first knot Scouts learn when they join the BSA. It has many uses-from securing bundles, packages, and the sails of ships to tying the ends of bandages.

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To tie a square knot, hold one rope end in each hand. Pass the right end over and under the rope in your left hand and pull it snug. Next, pass the rope now in your left hand over and under the one now in your right, and pull it snug. Remember, '''right over left, left over right.'''|[[Boy Scout Handbook]] p. 8}}

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'''Note: The Square knot comes untied easily and is not as strong as a [[Knot#Sheet bend|Sheet bend]].

;When your shoes keep coming untied, it is because you tied a Granny knot instead of a [[Knot#Square knot|Square knot]].

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==Bowline==

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{{include|Sheet bend}}

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[[Image:Bowline.gif|frame|right|''Make a loop (top to you). The rabbit goes out of the hole, around the tree, and back into the hole.'']]

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{{quote-source|Bowline knot – rescue knot, most useful of knots because it forms a loop that will not slip and is easy to untie. Use it to attach a cord to a pack frame, tie a rope through a grommet of a tent, secure a line to a canoe, and in rescue situations, and in a thousand other ways. Learn to tie the bowline around a post and in the free end of a rope. With practice, you can even tie it with one hand.

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Make a small overhand loop in the standing part of a rope. Bring the rope end up through the loop, around behind the standing part, and back down into the loop. Tighten the bowline by pulling the standing part away from the loop.|[[Boy Scout Handbook]] pp. 148-149}}

<li>[[Media:When_to_use_knots_lashings.pdf|When to use knots lashings]] {{PDF}}

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</td></tr></table>|auto}}

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{{quote-source|Use two half-hitches to tie a rope around a post.

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= External links =

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Pass the end of the rope around the post. Bring the end over and under the body of the rope (known as the standing part),then back through the loop thus formed. That makes a half hitch. Take the end around the standing part a second time and tie another half hitch. Pull it snug.|[[Boy Scout Handbook]] p. 36}}

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'''Note: The Two half-hitches knot is only secure when it is tight against the post.

[[Image:Tautline_Hitch.gif|right|frame|''Loop over the top and pull through the hole to make a Half hitch. Loop over the top and through the hole again. One last Half hitch on the outside. Pull tight.'']]

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{{quote-source|The taut-line hitch is tied to a line that is tight, or taut. Use it to tighten or loosen a tent guyline by pushing the hitch up or down. Here's how:

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Pass the line around the tent stake. Bring the end under and over the standing part and twice through the loop you have formed. Again bring the pore end under, over, and through the loop, but this time farther up the standing part. Work any slack out of the knot, then slide the hitch to adjust the tension on the line.|[[Boy Scout Handbook]] p. 37}}

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;Required for:

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* [[Outdoorsman|Webelos Outdoorsman]] #11. Demonstrate setting up a tent or dining fly using two half-hitches and a ''taut-line hitch''. Show how to tie a square knot and explain how it is used.

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* [[Tenderfoot]] #4b. Demonstrate you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the '''taut-line hitch'''.

[[Image:Clove_Hitch.gif|frame|left|Animation of tying a Clove hitch around a pole]][[Image:Clove_Hitch2.gif|right|frame|''Loop over the top. Loop around again below. Pull through the hole.'']]

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{{quote-source|Clove comes from the word cleave meaning “to split”, clove hitch is split into two parts like the foot of a deer or a sheep – used to end lashings… form the first half hitch of the clove hitch by taking a bight (loop) around the pole and then across itself.

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Form the second half hitch of the clove hitch by taking the second bight around the pole and tucking the end of the rope under the rope between the two loops. When pulled tight, the clove hitch should look like an X. The difference between a clove hitch and two half-hitches is that a clove hitch is tied around an object and two half-hitches are tied around the rope’s own standing part.

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An alternative way of tying a clove hitch it to make and overhand loop in the rope. Then make a second overhand loop next to the first loop. Next, without turning over either loop, place the first loop on top of the second loop. Finally, place the two loops over the end of a pole or around the neck of the bear bag and pull tight.|[[Boy Scout Handbook]] p. 139}}

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;Required for:

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:* [[First Class]] #7b. Demonstrate tying the timber hitch and '''clove hitch''' and their use in [[Square lashing|square]], [[Shear lashing|shear]], and [[diagonal lashing]]s by joining two or more poles or staves together.

[[Image:Timber_Hitch.gif|frame|left|Animation of tying the Timber hitch]]

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{{quote-source|The timber hitch is the knot to use for dragging a log across the ground. It is also the knot that starts a [[diagonal lashing]]. Here's how to tie a timber hitch:

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Pass the end of the rope around the log. Loop the end around the starting part of the rope, then wrap the end around itself three or more times. Tighten the hitch against the log.|[[Boy Scout Handbook]] p. 138}}

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;Required for:

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* [[First Class]] #7b. Demonstrate tying the '''timber hitch''' and clove hitch and their use in [[Square lashing|square]], [[Shear lashing|shear]], and [[diagonal lashing]]s by joining two or more poles or staves together.

If the cut end is left un-whipped, the rope will fray or untwist, and loose strength. Whip the ends of ropes to prevent fraying and prolongs the life of the rope.

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Lay twine (or dental floss) on rope to form a loop. Wrap the twine around with neat, tight bindings until the length of whipping is two to three times the diameter of the rope. Pull the working end of twine through the loop. Pull hard on the other end of the twine to draw tight under the wraps. Cut off loose ends and roll the whipping under foot.

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'''Fusing:'''<br>

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Tape the nylon, polyester, polypropylene rope around the area to be cut. Cut in middle of the tape leaving tape intact on each side. When cutting these fibers with a pocket knife or scissors, the cut ends should be fused with a match or candle flame to prevent untwisting. ''Natural fiber ropes do not fuse.''

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'''Required for:'''

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* [[Bear#22._Tying_It_All_Up|Bear 22a]]. '''Whip''' the ends of a rope.

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* [[Outdoorsman|Webelos Outdoorsman]] #10. Demonstrate how to '''whip and fuse''' the ends of a rope.

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* [[Tenderfoot]] #4a: Demonstrate how to '''whip and fuse''' the ends of a rope.

The Overhand knot is used in other knots including the Square knot which is two Overhand knots. The overhand knot can be used temporarily but can untie very easily if tied around something. The overhand knot can be used as a stopper knot and can keep a rope from fraying or unraveling but the Figure Eight is a much better stopper knot.

The square knot is also known as the joining knot because it can join two ropes together and because it is the first knot Scouts learn when they join the BSA. It has many uses-from securing bundles, packages, and the sails of ships to tying the ends of bandages.

There have probably been more lives lost as a result of using a square knot as a bend (to tie two ropes together) than from the failure of any other half dozen knots combined." The Sheet Bend is as easy to tie and untie.

When your shoes keep coming untied, it is because you are tying Granny knots instead of Square knots. The Granny knot is given to show what not to do. The Granny knot will come untied almost immediately and is not used for any Boy Scout application.

Use two half-hitches to tie a rope around a post. Pass the end of the rope around the post. Bring the end over and under the body of the rope (known as the standing part), then back through the loop thus formed. That makes a half hitch. Take the end around the standing part a second time and tie another half hitch. Pull it snug.

The taut-line hitch is tied to a line that is tight, or taut. Use it to tighten or loosen a tent guyline by pushing the hitch up or down. Here's how:

Pass the line around the tent stake. Bring the end under and over the standing part and twice through the loop you have formed. Again bring the pore end under, over, and through the loop, but this time farther up the standing part. Work any slack out of the knot, then slide the hitch to adjust the tension on the line.

Bowline knot – rescue knot, most useful of knots because it forms a loop that will not slip and is easy to untie. Use it to attach a cord to a pack frame, tie a rope through a grommet of a tent, secure a line to a canoe, and in rescue situations, and in a thousand other ways. Learn to tie the bowline around a post and in the free end of a rope. With practice, you can even tie it with one hand.

Make a small overhand loop in the standing part of a rope. Bring the rope end up through the loop, around behind the standing part, and back down into the loop. Tighten the bowline by pulling the standing part away from the loop.

The Bowline makes a reasonably secure loop in the end of a piece of rope. It has many uses, e.g., to fasten a mooring line to a ring or a post. Under load, it does not slip or bind. With no load it can be untied easily. It's principle shortcoming is that it cannot be tied, or untied, when there is a load on the standing end. It should therefore be avoided when, for example, a mooring line may have to be released under load. Two bowlines can be linked together to join two ropes.

The One Handed Bowline is a useful and quick way to tie a bowline when the other hand is occupied or injured. There are three main steps.1. Hold the short end and tie a half hitch with your whole forearm.2. Pass the short end round the standing end.3. Still holding the short end, withdraw your hand from the loop.

Since clove comes from the word cleave meaning “to split”, a clove hitch is split into two parts like the foot of a deer or a sheep – used to end lashings… form the first half hitch of the clove hitch by taking a bight (loop) around the pole and then across itself.

Form the second half hitch of the clove hitch by taking the second bight around the pole and tucking the end of the rope under the rope between the two loops. When pulled tight, the clove hitch should look like an X. The difference between a clove hitch and two half-hitches is that a clove hitch is tied around an object and two half-hitches are tied around the rope’s own standing part.

An alternative way of tying a clove hitch it to make and overhand loop in the rope. Then make a second overhand loop next to the first loop. Next, without turning over either loop, place the first loop on top of the second loop. Finally, place the two loops over the end of a pole or around the neck of the bear bag and pull tight.

The Timber Hitch is described by as much used for handling cargo "... for which it is very convenient, as it practically falls apart when pull ceases." It is also useful when towing a spar or log either afloat or on land. When used for this purpose, the Timber Hitch is often placed near the center of the spar and a separate half-hitch is dropped over the end of the spar to act as a guide.

Whipping and Fusing rope

Whipping:
If the cut end is left un-whipped, the rope will fray or untwist, and loose strength. Whip the ends of ropes to prevent fraying and prolongs the life of the rope.

Instructions

Lay twine (or dental floss) on rope to form a loop. Wrap the twine around with neat, tight bindings until the length of whipping is two to three times the diameter of the rope. Pull the working end of twine through the loop. Pull hard on the other end of the twine to draw tight under the wraps. Cut off loose ends and roll the whipping under foot.

Fusing:
Tape the nylon, polyester, polypropylene rope around the area to be cut. Cut in middle of the tape leaving tape intact on each side. When cutting these fibers with a pocket knife or scissors, the cut ends should be fused with a match or candle flame to prevent untwisting. Natural fiber ropes do not fuse.